iPad Pro 2 mockup brings trackpad to Smart Keyboard

Apple could unveil a new iPad Pro 2 as soon as next Monday during its WWDC 2017 keynote. And if it does, we hope the company adds some new productivity features, like this Smart Keyboard with a trackpad.

In a new mockup that imagines what the new Smart Keyboard could look like, designer David Chapman shows why it would be a great idea.

The idea of Apple adding a keyboard to the iPad Pro was recently floated by John Gruber on a recent podcast episodes. Instead of using the trackpad to move a mouse cursor, Gruber postulated that maybe Apple would use it just to move the typing cursor similar to how you can 3D Touch on the iOS keyboard to move the insertion point.

Apple added an incomplete version of tvOS’s UIFocusEngine to iOS 9. That could come into play for an iPad Pro trackpad, allowing users to control the interface framework to select apps and other tasks without having a mouse cursor.

iOS 11 could contain a number of software productivity enhancements to help turn the iPad into a true “Pro” tablet on the go. Details on what new features will make it into iOS 11 have been slim, but you can read our iOS 11 wishlist for info on what features fans want.